The chance to watch history in the making is being given to people next week as preparations for the reinterment of Richard III continue.

Leicestershire County Council will be making 2,000 tickets available for an event to mark the king's final journey at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre event.

The afternoon service will be led by the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, the Bishop of Leicester, and takes place on Sunday March 22.

The tickets - 1,000 seated and 1,000 standing - will be available on a first come, first served basis at www.bosworthbattlefield.com and will go on sale online from 10am on Tuesday March 3.

Tickets will cost £2.50, which includes the charge for a shuttle bus service.

The service will run from two sites - the Caterpillar plant in Peckleton Lane, Desford, and the Triumph motorcycle factory at Hinckley.

There will be no public parking available at Bosworth on the day, other than for blue badge holders.

The afternoon service at the sundial at Bosworth forms part of the cortege procession which also passes through the villages of Dadlington, Sutton Cheney, Market Bosworth, Newbold Verdon and Desford before arriving in the city.

County council leader Nick Rushton said: "We want to offer an opportunity for people to experience an event of world significance and we're expecting a lot of interest for Bosworth tickets.

"The reinterment of Richard III will be a momentous occasion and I am sure it will resonate throughout the county for years to come."

The Sunday event will also provide ticket-holders with the chance to explore two living history encampments, the role of a gun team, talk to guides about the events which led to Richard III’s death in battle back in 1485, as well as learning about medieval falconry.

The multi-award-winning exhibition, re-telling the full story of the battle, will also be open at a reduced price of £2. Refreshments will also be available throughout the day.

The county council has already announced a series of events to take place at Bosworth from Monday March 23 to Sunday March 29.

The programme, which supports the permanent battlefield exhibition, includes: a series of daytime and early-evening talks, including Arming King Richard III for battle with Dominic Smee, the King’s body double in a TV documentary; battlefield tours to the likely site of King Richard III’s demise in battle; What Remains of Richard III? - a play about King Richard III’s reputation; book launch by historian John Ashdown-Hill; Hawkwise falconry displays and guided walks.

For more details, including prices and timings of the week-long programme of events, visit www.bosworthbattlefield.com or call Hinckley 290429.